Electrical junction-box.



E. H. FREEMAN, ELECTRICAL JUNCTION BOX. APPLICATION FILED APR.11.1912.

Patented Dec. 8, 1914.

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I APPLICATION FILED APR- 11, 1912 v 1 1 203.7% Patented Dec. 8, 1914,

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Allorney UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDGAR H. FREEMAN, OF TR-ENTON, I-TE'VV JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T6 E. II.FREEMAN ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF TRENTON, NEW? JERSEY, A. CORPORATION OF NEWJERSEY.

new and useful improvements in the 0011- struction of outlet or junctionboxes, such as are commonly employed for electric wiring.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a comparatively simpleand inexpensive outlet boxwhich embodies novel features of constructionwhereby it can be readily adjusted to provide outlet openings orcoupling members for one or more branchesas may be desired, therebyobviating the necessity of providing a separate and distinct junctionbox for each different V arrangement of the branches which may benecessary.

A further object of the invention isto' provide an utlet box in whichsides and ends are removable and interchangeable so as to admit of theparts being assembled in various manners, novel means being pro-" ruledfor holding the sides rigidly 1n position when the outlet box isassembled and set up for use.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certaincombinations and arrangements of the parts'as will more fully a pear asthe description proceeds,the novel eatures thereof being pointed out inthe appended claim.

For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to theaccom-- the outlet opening and coupling member be- Fig. 5

ing arranged toward one end of the side. is a transverse sectional Viewthrough the outlet box. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the outlet box, showingone Specification of Letters latent.

Application filed April 11, 1912. Serial No. 689,968.

Patented. Dec. 8,1914;

manner of assembling the same, in which provision is made for branchesatuopposite ends thereof. showing another manner of assembling. theoutlet box in which provision is made for branches at the middleportions of oppo- Fig. 7 is a similar View site sides thereof.- Fig..8....is.awsimillliy showing a further manner of assembling the parts inwhich provision is made for branches at both ends and at one side'of thebox, or in T-form Fig. 9. is a similar view showing a manner ofassembling the parts in which provision is made for branches at bothends and also at both sides of the box, or'in cross-form. Fig. 10 isalso a similar view showing a ditlerent manner of asseinbling the partsin which a branch is pro vlded at one end and at one side of the box, I

or in L-form.

Like references designate corresponding parts in the several figures ofthe drawings. speclfically describing the present embodiment of theinvention, the numeral 1 designatesthe top or open'side of the outletbox, and 2 the bottom member which has an opposed relation thereto. Thetop 1 and bottom 2 are shown in the as rectangular in shape and of anelon ated construction, the top or open side 1 provided at suitablepoints with the usual lugs or ears 3 which are provided with threadedopenings 4. The ends and sides present instance eing are interposedbetween the top and bottom and constructed to have an interlockingconnection therewith.

As shown in Fig. 1, theends 5 havea" plain construction is and serve toclose the ends of the box without providing for a branch at either endthereof. The side 6 1' is provided which is closed at both. lands and.

at one side thereof, but which rovided at the middle of the oppositeside ereof with a branch connection.

In Fig. 3 is shown an end plate 9 which is interchangeable with either'of the ends 5[ andis provided with a suitable branch connection 10.

A side 11 is shown by Fig. 4 which can be substituted for either of thesides 6 or 7 or 13s Fig. 1, the said side 11 being formed with a branchconnection 12 which is arranged toward one end of the side. The endsbeing interchangeable with each other, it will be obvious that by usingthe proper sides and ends in assembling-the box, provision can be madefor the necessary number of branch connections. As previously stated,the ends and sides fit between the top 1 and bottom 2, andhave aninterlocking connection therewith so as to be held securely in positionand provide a rigid construction when the parts are assembled. Both theend plates and side plates are provided with the lugs 13 which projectfrom opposite edges thereof and are adapted to be received withincorresponding keeper openings 14 formed in the top and bottom plates.These lugs 13- are shown as offset inwardly from the plane of the platesso thatwhen the lugsare fitted within the openings 14, the outersurfaces of the plates will be flush with the edges of the top 1 andbottom 2. 'Where the various p parts of the outlet box are stamped. fromsheetmetal, as in the previous instance, the lugs 13 may be convenientlyoffset from the plates by bending inwardly, as indicated at 15, thoseportions of the plates which are located adjacent the lugs and carryingthe same. The top and bottom are connected, preferably at the cornersthereof, by means of suitable fastening members such as the screws 16,the said screws being inserted in position through the screw-receivingopenings 16 and tightened, after the proper side and end members havebeen assembled between the top ,and bottom plates to provide for thedesired number and arrangement of :1 the outlet connections. By-usingtwo plain side member's 6 and the two end members 9, such as are shownin Fig. 3, an outlet box with straightaway Y end to end, connections maybe provided, as shown by Fig. 6. In a reverse manner, by

,45 using plain end plates 5, and providing two side plates? with thebranch connections in the middle thereof, an outlet box withstraightaway connections from. opposite v sides thereof may be provided,as indicated by Fig. 7. Should it be desired to provide for three branchconnections, two of the end plates 9 might be employed in connectionwith a plain side 6 and a side plate 7 with P .a-branch in the middlethereof, as indicated [by Fig. 8, thus making a T-iitting. It will alsobe obvious that by providing two ofthe side plates 7 and two of the endplates 9,

a cross-form of outlet box with four branch connections can be provided.It is also very so frequently desirable to provide for an L- shapedjunction, as indicated in Fig. 10, and

with one of the sides 11 shown in Fig. 4, in

which the branch connection 12 is arranged at one end of the side. Itwill thus be obvious that the side members are not only interchangeable,but that the branch connections are arranged at different points uponthe respective sides, thereby enabling the position and arrangement ofthe branches, as well as the number thereof, to be adjusted as foundnecessary. Y

From the foregoing description, it'will be apparent that a distinct andpractical advantage of the present invention over many of the well knownforms of outlet or junction boxes resides in the fact that the entirestructure may be made of sheet metal stampings in a rapid and economicalmanner, and the side and end plates having the outlet openingspermanently fitted with screw niples for the coupling thereto of theconduits through which thewire is piped. This provides a much-more.satisfactory construction from manufacturing, and installationstandpoints than the cast-metal typesof outlet boxes wherein the pipenipples or couplings are usually separate pieces and have to beseparately attached to the box'body. Also, the present invention, byreason of the construction referred to, involves a decided improvementover that type of outlet boxes wherein provision is made for punchingout the outlet holes, thus necessitating either a. separate tappingoperation for the holes or the fitting of the pipe ends therein in anunsatisfactory and insecure manner.

I claim:

An electrical outlet or junction box constructed of sheet metal andconsisting of top and bottom plates provided at their corners withscrew-receiving openings and with keeper openings adjacent thescrew-receiving openings, a pluralityof interchangeable sheet metalplates for the sides and ends of the box, each of said side and endplates having projecting-edge lugs adapted to en'- gage certain of saidkeeper openings of the topand bottom plates, the said lugs beinginwardly offset from the plane of the plates, and fastening screwsarranged within the corners of the box and, extending through the saidserewa'eceiving openings.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses.

' EDGAR H. FREEMAN.

\Vitnesses .SARA M. RANDALL,

ADA MARSH.

